Fluid control device

ABSTRACT

A machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like has a number of supply containers for detergents or additives, and is provided with a fluid control device for flushing the supply containers. A number of parallel-connected branches of a water conduit are provided which open into the fluid control device. The number of the branches is smaller than the number of supply containers. The fluid control device comprises a distributing member having at least one fluid wall attachment element.

lJriited States Patent [191 llolster et a1.

[1111 3,747,645 [45.1 July 24,1973

[ FLUID CONTROL DEVICE [75] Inventors: Peter Leendert Holster; HendricusFranciscus Gerardus Smulders, both of Emmasingel, Eindhoven,Netherlands; Roger Bertrand Baert, Halifax, England [73] Assignee: U.S.Philips Corporation, New York,

{22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1971 '[21] Appl. No.: 198,150

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 17, 1970 Netherlands 7016793'[52] U.S. Cl. 137/838, 137/624.18 {51] Int. Cl. ..l Fl5c l/l2 [58]Field of Search 137/81.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,080,886 3/1963 Seversonl37/81.5 3,366,131 1/1968 Swartz p 3,592,208 7/1971 Kimmel e! a].137/81.5 3,568,699 3/1971 Bauer et a1. 137/81.5 3,114,390 12/1963Glattli 137/815 3,277,914 10/1966 Manion 137/815 3,373,905 3/1968Laufer, Sr 137/815 X 3,490,478 1/1970 Brueler,1r 137/815 3,513,8665/1970 13001116 6t 31 137/81.5 3,589,381 6/1971 Yamamoto et 81. 137/815Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Frank R. Trifari [5 7] ABSTRACT Amachine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like has a number ofsupply containers for detergents or additives, and is provided with afluid control device for flushing the supply containers. A number ofparallelconnected branches of a water conduit are provided which openinto the fluid control device. The number of the branches is smallerthan the number of supply containers. The fluid control device comprisesa distributing member having at least one fluid wall attachment element.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RBBAE M 3% Ag L PATENTED 3.747. 645

SHEEI 3 [IF 5 BYROGER e. BAERT a k n E Agt FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Theinvention relates generally to a machine for washing textile fabrics,dishes or the like, in which during the washing process detergents and,other additives must be successively carried from supply containers intoa washing space, and more particularly to a device for controlling theflow of fluid used in such a machine for flushing the containers.

Netherlands Patent Application No. 6805834, corresponding to U. S. Pat.No. 3,589,150 issued June 29, 1971, describes such a machine whichenables three supply containers to be emptied bymeans of two conduitbranches each of which are provided with a controllable valve. The mainattraction of this arrangement is the saving in valves. In domesticwashing machines, for example, the price of the flushing device islargely determined by the cost of the valves, which generally areelectromagnetic devices. However, the orifices or nozzles of the conduitbranches have to be specially shaped and to be accurately positionedrelative to one another to enable a correct interaction of the jets ofwater to be achieved.

Thus in an embodiment of the flushing device mentioned in the said U.S.patent two nozzles must be disposed so that either of them is capableofejecting a jet into a supply container located at some distance, whilsttheir centre lines must intersect in order to ensure that when jetsissue from both nozzles simultaneously a joint jet can be formed foremptying a third supply container. r

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the typementioned at the beginning of this specification which is improved inseveral respects, and one of the advantages of the improved machine isthat the various flow passages may simply and cheaply be placed andmaintained in the correct relative positions, and the invention ischaracterized in that the fluid control device for flushingthe'containers includes a distributing member having at least one fluidwall attachment element.

Many embodiments of fluid wall attachment elements are known, theseelements being characterized by the use of the Coanda effect. Thiseffect is based on the tendency of a jet of fluid which flows along asolid wall to continue to follow the shape of the wall under theinfluence of a pressure reduction at the wall side of the jet, even ifthe wall deflects from the initial travelling direction of the jet.

A particular feature of elements of this type is that they can bemanufactured by planar techniques and may be built by stacking twoplates one of which is provided with a pattern of passages open on oneside,

whilst the other serves as a cover or top plate. The latter plate may beentirely plane and be secured to the first-mentioned plate by means ofan adhesive or screws, whilst this first-mentioned plate may be madefrom a synthetic material by injection mouldingusing an injection mouldcomprising only two parts, The passages are rectangular in section Forcombining two jets to a single jet, jets of rectangular section arepreferable to jets of circular section.-

The invention is based on the recognition that these features of fluidwall attachment elements are of interest for improving machines of thetype mentioned at the beginning of this specification, because theenumerated disadvantages are offset bythe possibility of providing aplurality of flushing passages in a single distributing member by meansof a cheap but accurate method of manufacture suitable for massproduction methods. Moreover the advantage of greater flexibility in theconstruction of the machine is obtained, for the distributing member maybe located at the most suitable point, the supply containers beingconnected to it by hoses. This also implies a greater freedom in theselection of the locations of the supply containers. In general it maybe said that a machine can be constructed more efficiently and atsmaller cost and be better adapted to the wants of the user according asthere are fewer constructional limitations.

Further advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter. Forthe sake of clarity, the structure and the terminology of a wallattachment element will first be discussed with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a wall attachment element as described in U.S. Pat. No.3,366,131 which may be used as a dis tributing member in a machineaccording to the invention. For simplicity, in describing this figureand also in the remainder of this specification it will be assumed thatthe flushing device is intended for a domestic washing machine.

The distributing member 10 of FIG. 1 is constructed from a bottom plate11 provided with apattern of open passages and a top plate 12 secured tothe bottom plate in a water-tight manner. The pattern of passages in thebottom plate 11 includes two parallel supply passages 13 and 14 whichopen into interaction chambers 15 and 16 respectively. The interactionchambers are provided with intercoupled control channels 17 and 18 andfurther control channels 19 and 20, respectively.

Downstream of the interaction chamber 15 there is located a splitter 21at the point at which the interaction chamber 15 divides intooutputpassages 22 and 23. On the side of the interaction chamber 16 aspliter 24 is located between output passages 25 and 26. Fur therdownstream the two output passages 23 and 25 meet to form a joint outputpassage 27. The supply of water to the supply passage 14 may be effectedthrough a nipple 28 which is integral with the top plate 12 and to whicha water supply hose 30 is secured by means of a clip 29. The hose isconnected to a flushing valve, which in washing machines generally istermed filling valve, not shown. The supply passage 13 is similarlyconnected to a second filling valve.

Pointed tips 31 and 32 of the bottom plate 11 are so situated relativeto the supply passage 13 that if a jet should issue straight from thepassage 13 the tip 31 would slightly project into the jet, but the tip32 would be set back a certain distance from the jet. Tips 34 and 33 arecorrespondingly situated relative to the supply passage 14. v

The operation of the flushing device 10 is roughly as follows: if wateris supplied only to the passage 13 and not the passage 14, a small partof the jet flowing through the interaction chamber 15 will be peeled'offby the tip 31 to be discharged to the wash tub through a control channel19 not used for'any other purpose. As a result, a vortex in which anegative pressure pertains will be produced in the interaction chamber,so that the jet is deflected in the direction of the output passage 22and is discharged through'this passage. V

Similarly a jet of water emanating from the supply passage 14 isdischarged through an output passage 26 in the absence of a supplythrough the passage 13.

If, however, water is simultaneously supplied to both passages 13 and14, both supply jets will be deflected to the output passages 25 and 23.This is due to the reduction in pressure which is produced in thecoupled control channels 17 and 18 because the air initially present inthese channels is partly entrained by the water jets and cannot bereplaced. As a result one water jet is formed which leaves thedistributing memher through a joint output passage 27.

The distributing member of FIG. 1 may be regarded as consisting of acombination of two separate fluid wall attachment elements, onecomprising the supply passage 13, control channels 17 and 19 and outputpassages 22 and 23 and the other comprising supply passage 14, controlchannels 18 and and output passages 25 and 26. Both elements operate asmonostable wall attachment elements owing to their shapes and to thefact that the control channels 19 and20 are not used for controlpurposes. The output passages 22 and 26 are the preferred outputpassages. For example, the monostable wall attachment element having thesupply passage 13 will not switch its output signal from the preferredoutput passage 22 to the output passage 23 if, and only as long as, acontrol signal in the form of a reduced pressure is present in thecontrol channel 17.

It is emphasized that FIG. 1 mainly has the purpose of illustrating arough description of the operation of an embodiment of a distributingmember comprising at least one fluid wall attachment element for use ina flushing device for a washing machine according to the invention andalso for the purpose of introducing the terminology to be usedhereinafter with respect to such a flushing device. There is nocertainty at all that a pattern of passages as shown in FIG. 1 inrespect of its shape and the ratios of the various dimensions willsatisfactorily give the desired effect when using water as the fuid. I

The distributing member shown in FIG. 1 enables three separate supplycontainers to be emptied by means of two controllable filling valves.

Hitherto it has not been usual in modern automatic washing machines tosupply a detergent or other additive in more than three stages of thewashing cycle and hence at most three supply containers have beenprovided. In automatic dish washing machines also three supplycontainers are used. However, it is not impossible that in future theremay be a demand for more than three supply containers.

An embodiment of the invention which enables four separate supplycontainers to be flushed by means of two controllable filling valves ischaracterized in that the distributing member comprises:

first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having acontrol channel and two output passages, the preferred output channelhaving one branch, and first and second feedback passages each of whichcouple the branch of the preferred output passage of one of the saidelements to the control channel of the other.

Another embodiment even enables five supply containers to be flushed bymeans of two filling valves, and is characterized in that thedistributing member comprises:

first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements each havingtwo output passages and a control channel,

first and second blocking elements each having a blocking chamber, asupply chamber and a control member, the two latter chambers beingarranged to be separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner bymeans of a blocking member which is movable in the blocking chamber byfluid pressure, and

coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of the first fluidwall attachment element to the supply chamber of the first blockingelement and the blocking chamber of the second blocking element, thesupply passage of the second fluid wall attachment element to the supplychamber of the second fluid wall attachment element and the blockingchamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the firstfluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the firstblocking element, and thecontrol channel of the second fluid wallattachment element to the control chamber of the second blockingelement.

In spite of the comparatively complicated structure of the distributingmember in the latter embodiment of the invention and in spite of theprovision of movable valve members in it, the fluid wall attachmentelements may be made by planar techniques and the entire member may havea simple construction which may be cheaply manufactured by massposduction methods by the use of a still further embodiment which ischaracterized in that the distributing member comprises two parts eachhaving an open pattern of passages, channel and chambers in the sidefacing theother part and sealing member made of a resilient materialwhich is clamped between the said two parts and portions of which serveas blocking members in the form of flexible diaphragms.

Still another embodiment also enables five supply containers to beemptied with the use of two filling valves; this embodiment provides theadvantage that the distributing member does not include any movingparts, and is characterized in that the distributing member comprises:

two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having two outputpassages and first and second control channels, the first controlchannel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferred outputpassage to the other output passage under the influence of a controlsignal, the second control channel acting as a stabilizing channel forstabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage under the influenceof a stabilizing signal,

branches from each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which intercouples the first control channels,

a coupling channel which couples the branch of the preferred outputpassage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with this element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch of the preferred outputpassge of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with this element.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 2 shows a domestic washing machine having three supply containersfor a prewashing agent, a main washing agent and a rinsing agent, adistributing member as shown in FIG. 1 being used,

FIG. 3 is a exploded view of a distributing member having four outputpassages and comprising a bottom plate and a top plate, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a central hydraulic program control unitfor washing machine, which unit operates with water as the fluid andincludes a distributing member having five output passages, thecomponent parts of the member, Le. a top plate, an intermediate plateand a bottom plate, being drawn separate from one another in relativepositions into which they have been pivoted about one edge of the set ofplates, and

FIG. 5 shows schematically the pattern of passages and channels of adistributing member including no moving parts and also suitable forflushing five supply containers.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a washing machine 35 of the typehaving a horizontal wash drum 36 which may be driven into rotation by anelectric motor 38 by means of a V-belt 37. The wash drum is disposedwithin a wash tub 39 into which opens a down-pipe 40. Through thisdown-pipe water may be supplied through three supply containers 41, 42and 43; the first two containers are used for a prewash agent and a mainwash agent respectively and the third for a rinse agent. The washingmachine is connected to the water supply means through a pipe 44. Thepipe 44 divides into two branches 45 and 46 which are provided withelectromagnetic filling valves 47 and 48 respectively and are connectedto a distributing member as shown in FIG. 1. The distributingmemberisagain denoted by the reference numeral 10, and further referencenumerals also correspond to those of FIG. 1'.

, From the above description of the distributing member it will be clearthat when the filling valve 47 only is opened a water jet will issuefrom the output passage 22, and when the filling valve 48 only is openeda water jet will issue from the output passage 26. If both fillingvalves 47 and 48 are opened, a water jet will issue from the outputpassage 27. The passages 22, 26 and 27 are directed to the supplycontainers 41, 42 and 43 respectively so as to enable them to flushthese containers. The filling valves 47 and 48 are connected to the control device of the machine, not shown.

In the operation of the washing machine the supply containers 41, 42 and43 will be filled, when a program including a prewash operation isselected, with a prewash agent,'a main wash agent and a rinse agentrespectively, before the machine is started. After the machine has beenstarted the control device ensures that at the beginning of the prewashstage th filling valve 47 only is opened. The jet of water which issuesfrom the output passage 22 flushes the prewash agent from the supplycontainer 41 through the downpipe 40 into the tub 39 and fills thelatter to the required level. The water leading from the control channel19 simultaneously falls into the supply container 41.

At the commencement of the main wash stage the control device opens thefilling valve 48 so that the main wash agent is flushed from the supplycontainer 42 into the wash tub. Thus the supply containers 41 and 42both are empty, so that the water required to fill the wash tub 39 for asubsequent rinse stage can be supplied through either of thesecontainers by opening either of the fillingvalves 47 and 48. Only at thebeginning of the last rinse stage will both filling valves 47 and 48 besimultaneously opened by the control device, so

that a jet of water issues from the output passage 27 into the supplycontainer 43. This supply container is intended to contain a liquidafter-rinse agent; the water jet entering it will flush the after-rinseagent over the rim into the two supply containers 41 and 42 and thencethrough the down pipe 40 into the wash tub 39.

The distributing member 49 shown in FIG. 3 has a structure similar tothe distributing member 10 of FIG. 1 and comprises a top plate 50 and abottom plate 51 which is provided with a pattern of open passages andchannels. This pattern defines a first monostable wall attachmentelement 52 and a second, identical wall attachment element I52. Themonostable wall jet element 52 has two output passages 53 and 54 and acontrol channel 55, the output passage 53 being the preferred outputpassage and having a branch 56. The element further comprises a supplypassage 57 one end of which is connected to the passage 58 in ahose-coupling nipple 59 and at the other end opens into an interactionchamber 60.

The various components of the: monostable wall jet element 152 whichcorrespond to components of the monostable wall jet element 52 aredesignated by a reference numeral which denotes the correspondingcomponent with the digit I placed before it. Thus, the preferred outputpassage 53 of the monostable element 52 corresponds to the preferredoutput passage 153 of the monostable element 152, and so on.

The control channel 55 of the monostable wall attachment element 52is'coupled through a feedback channel 61 to the branch. 156 of thepreferred output passage 153 of the monostable wall attachment element152. Similarly the control channel 155 is coupled to the branch 56through a feedback channel 161.

On the lower surface of the bottom plate 51 are arranged fourhose-coupling nipples 62, 63, 64 and 65 in which are provided passages66, 67, 68 and 69, and which communicate with passages 70, 71, 72 and73, respectively. The passage 71 is aligned with the preferred passage53 of the monostable wall attachment element 52 and the passage 73 isaligned with the passage 153. The passage is situated substantially onthe bisector of the angle enclosed by the passages 54 and 153. Hosesleading to four containers for deter gents and additives of, forexample, a washing machine may be connected to the nipples 62 to 65.This connection must be such that the passages 66 to 69 are continuouslyin communication with the atmosphere when they do not convey water. I

The operation of the distributing member 49 of FIG. 3 depends onwhether:

A. water is supplied to the passage 58 only and not to the passage 158,

B. water is supplied to the passage 158 only and not to the passage 58,r

C. water is first supplied to the passage 58 and then to the passage 158also,

D. water is first supplied to the passage 158 and then to the passage 58also. i

The operation under these four conditions will be described in detailhereinafter.

A. Water spouts through the supply passage 57 into the interactionchamber 60 and will entrain the air contained in this chamber. Thecontrol channel 55 communicateswith the ambient atmosphere through thepassages 66 to 69. Thus, air may be supplemented to the interactionchamber 60 on the side of the control channel 55, but not on the otherside, with a consequent reduced pressure at this side. As a result, thewater jet issuing from the supply passage 57 will be deflected andimpinges on a wall 74. This produces a deflection such that the jetweill follow the preferred passage 53 and through passages 71 and 67will be emitted from the member 49. Thus the water will flow through thenipple 63.

B. In a manner similar to that described at A the water will now flowthrough the nipple 65.

C. Initially the situation described at A will be produced. The waterwhich subsequently is supplied through the passage 158 will follow thepassage 154, because at the area of the control channel 155 a greatlyreduced pressure will obtain, for the air in this area will be entrainedboth by the water flowing through the passage 53 and by the water jet inthe interaction chamber 160 and cannot be supplemented. The two waterflows jointly are emitted from the distributing member 49 through thenipple 62. s

D. Under these conditions the water will be emitted from thedistributing member through the nipple 64.

The wall attachment elements used in the distributing member 49 areknown and described, for example, in Fluid logic devices by P. Facon,Paper K7, Third Cranfield Fluidics Conference, Turing, May 1968.However, other typs of wall jet elements may also be used. Further thecontrol signals in the form of reduced pressures may be replaced bycontrol signals in the form of increased pressure.

The distributing member 75 shown in FIG. 4 comprises three plates, i.e.a top plate 76, a rubber intermediate plate 77 and a bottom plate 78.The top plate 76 and the bottomplate 78 have patterns of open passagesand channels formed in their facing sides, which patterns communicatewith one another through openings 79 and 179 in the intermediate plate77 only. The distributing member 75 is directly mounted on the lowersurface of a hydraulic program control device 80 using water, Since thestructure of this device is not of importance for the presentapplication, it will not be described further.

The pattern of passages and channels in the bottom plate 78 comprisestwo identical'monostable wall jet elements 81 and 181. Hereinaftercorresponding component parts of these two elements will be designatedby corresponding reference numerals in the same manner as usedhereinbefore in describing FIG. 3.

The monostable wall jet element 81 has a supply passage 82, a controlchannel 83 and two output passages 84 and 85 the first of which is thepreferred output passage. The five output passages of the distributingmember comprise the output passages 85 and 185 of the monostable wallattachment elements 81 and 181 respectively and furthermore passages 86,87 and 88. The passage. 86 is aligned with the passage 184, the passage88 is aligned with the passage 84 and the passage 87 lies on thebisector of the angle enclosed by the two passages 84 and 184.

Because of the relatively inclined position of the plates 76, 77 and 78the two blocking elements cannot be designated in their respectiveentireties. The blocking element associated with the monostable wallattachment element 81 comprises a blocking chamber 89 formed in theplate 76 and a supply chamber 90 and a controlchamber 91 separated by apartition 92 formed in the plate 78. When water supply means pressureobtains in the blocking chamber 89 and the supply chamber 90 and thecontrol chamber 91 are separated from one another in a water-tightmanner, because the part of the rubber intermediate plate 77 which inthis area serves as a blocking element is pressed on to the partition92.

Again, the various corresponding component parts of the blockingelements associated with the monostable wall attachment element 181,which blocking element is identical with the blocking element justdescribed, are designated by corresponding reference numerals.

Water may be supplied to the distributing member through a water supplypassage which extends internally of the control device and opens intothe blocking chamber 89, and through a similar passage which opens intothe blocking chamber 189. The blocking chamber 89 communicates with thesupply passage 182 of the monostable wall jet element 181 through acoupling channel 93 and through the opening 179 in the intermediateplate 77. Similarly the blocking chamber 189 communicates with thesupply passage 82 through the channel 193 and the opening 79.

The supply passage 82 communicates with the supply chamber through acoupling channel 94. the blocking chamber 91 is coupled to the controlchannel 83 by the coupling channel 95.

The embodiment shown includes further control channels 96 and 196situated opposite the control channels 83 and 183 and in directcommunication with the atomsphere.

The operation of the distributing member 75 under various operatingconditions will now be described.

1. Water is supplied to the blocking chamber 189 only. Under theseconditions the water flows through the channel 193 and the opening 79'tothe supply passage 82, and through a passage 94, the supply chamber 90,over the partition 92 in the control chamber 91 and through the passageto the control channel 83. Under the influence of the water pressure inthe control channel 83 the water issuing from the supply passage 82 willfind its way through the output passage 85 and will leave thedistributing member 75 through this passage.

II. Water is supplied to the blocking chamber 89 only. Under theseconditions the water will issue from the output passage 185.

III. Water is supplied first to the blocking chamber 189, then to theblocking chamber 89 and subsequently the .supply of water to theblocking chamber 189 is stopped. By the initial supply of water to theblocking chamber 189 the flexible intermediate plate 77 is 10- callypressed against the partition 192 between the supply chamber 190 and thecontrol chamber 191. If now water begins to be supplied to the blockingchamber 89, water will flow through the supply passage 182 but notthrough the controlchannel 183. When water is no longer supplied to theblocking chamber 189 this condition is maintained. Since the jet ofwater issuing from the supply passage 184 entrains air from the controlchannel 183, the pressure in this channel will be reduced in a degreesuch that even after the pressure in the blocking chamber 189 hascollapsed water is prevented from flowing over the partition 192 in asuffrcient'amount. Under the influence of the reduced pressure in thecontrol channel 183 the water will then follow the output. passage 184and will finally leave the distributing member 75 through the outputpassage 86.

IV. Water is first supplied to the blocking chamber 2 89, then to theblocking chamber 189 and finally the supply of water to the blockingchamber 89 is stopped. Under these conditions the water flows from theoutput passage 88.

V. Water is supplied both to the blocking chamber 89 and to the blockingchamber 189. Because owing to the various flow losses which will occurthe pressure in the blocking chambers 89 and 189 will always be higherthan the pressure on the opposite side of the flexible intermediateplate 77, the water is prevented from flowing over the partitions 92 and192. Consequently the water will flow through the passage 84 and 184 andfinally issue from the output passage 87.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the pattern of passages and channels ofa distributing member which also enables five supply containers to beemptied and which has no moving parts. The two monostable wall jetelements are designated by 200 and 300, whilst corre sponding parts areagain designated by corresponding reference numerals.

Water is supplied to the wall attachment element 200 via a connection201 and a supply passage 202. The element has two output passages 203and 204, the former of which is the preferred output passage, and afirst control channel 205 for switching the flow of the fluid to theoutput passage 204 under the influence of a vacuum control signal. Theelement further comprises another control channel 206 which acts as astabilizing channel for stabilizing the flow in the output passage 203under the influence of a vacuum stabilizing signal. The preferred outputpassage 203 has a branch 207.

A coupling channel 400 connects the two control channels 205 and 305. Acoupling'channel 208 connects the branch 207 to the stabilizing channel206.

The branch 207 is shaped so that when water flows through the preferredoutput passage 203 a partial vacuum is produced in the stabilizingchannel 206 owing to air being entrained from the system 206-208-207.

Operation is as follows:

l. Water is supplied through the connection 201 only. The water flowsthrough the preferred output passage 203 to the orifice 209.

II. Water is supplied through the supply opening 301 only. The waterflows to the orifice 309.

III. Water 'is supplied first through the connection 201 only and thenthrough the connection 301 also. The water which first is suppliedthrough the connection 201 flows to the orifice 209. Because air fromthe system 205-400 206 is entrained by the flow of water in the channel203, The water which then is supplied through the connection 301 will,under the influence of the vacuum control signal in the control channel305, flow through the channel 304 to the orifice 310. The flow throughthe wall attachment element 200 will now be influenced by the signal inthe control channel 203 because a stabilizing signal has already beenproduced at the control channel 206.

IV. Water is first supplied through the connection 301 and then throughthe connection 201 also. The water will flow to the orifices 309 and210.

V. Water is simultaneously supplied through the connections 201 and 301.Since stabilizing signals cannot yet be present in the control channels206 and 306 but will immediately be produced in the control channels 205and 305, the water will flow to the orifices 210 and In a manner notshown in FIG. 5, in each of the cases III, IV and V the water flows willbe combined to form a single jet. This combination may be effected inthe distributing member itself in the manner described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, or externally of the distributing member in the mannerdescribed in our aforementioned prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,150.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, inwhich detergents and other additives are to be successively carried fromsupply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device forselectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a pluralityof parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of saidbranches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that atleast two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least oneof said containers, said fluid control device having a distributingmember comprising a first and a second monostable fluid wall attachmentelement each having two output passages and a control channel, a firstand a second blocking element each having a blocking chamber, a supplychamber and a control chamber, the latter two chambers being arranged tobe separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of ablocking member arranged to be moved by fluid pressure in the blockingchamber, and coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of thefirst fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the firstblocking element and to the blocking chamber of the second blockingelement, the supply passage of the second fluid wall attachment elementto the supply chamber of the second blocking element and the blockingchamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the firstfluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the firstblocking element, and the control channel of the second fluid wallattachment element to thecontrol chamber of the second blocking element.

2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing membercomprises two parts having an open pattern of passages, channels andchambers, on the surface of each part facing the other part, and asealing member made of a resilient material and clamped between the saidtwo parts, given portions of the sealing member acting as blockingmembers in the form of flexible diaphragms.

3. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, inwhich detergents and other additives are to be successively carried fromsupply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device forselectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a pluralityof parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of saidbranches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that atleast two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least oneof said containers, said fluid control device having a distributingmember comprising two monostable fluid wall attachment elements eachhaving two outputpassages and a first and a second control channel, thefirst control channel serving to switch the fluidflow from the preferredoutput passage to the other output passage under the influence of acontrol signal the second con-' trol channel acting as a stabilizingchannel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage underthe influence of a stabilizing signal,

branches on each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which couples the first control channels to oneanother,

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred outputpassage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with this element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred outputpassage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with this element.

4. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectivelydirect fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising adistributing member having fluid inputs and fluid outputs, parallelconnected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said outputs,the number of said branches being less than the number of said supplycontainers, said distributing member comprising first and secondmonostable fluid wall attachment elements, each of said elements havinga control channel and two output passages communicating with said fluidoutputs, one of said output passages being a preferred passage, aseparate branch connected to each of said preferred passages, and afeedback channel communicating between the separate branch of one ofsaid wall attachment elements and the control channel of the otherelement.

5. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectivelydirect fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising adistributing member having fluid input connections and fluid outputconnections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduitconnected to said input connections, the number of said branches beingless than the number of said supply containers, said distributing membercomprising first and second monostable fluid wall attachment elements,each of said elements having a supply passage, two output passages, acontrol channel, a blocking element comprising a blocking chamber, asupply chamber, a control chamber, and a blocking member separating saidsupply chamber from said control chamber in a fluid tight manner andmovable by fluid pressure in said blocking chamber, a first couplingchannel coupling said the supply passage of said first wall attachmentelement to the blocking chamber in the blocking element of said secondwall attachment element, a second coupling channel coupling said supplypassage of said second wall attachment element to the blocking chamberin the blocking element of said first wall attachment element, channelmeans in each of said wall attachment elements for communicating saidsupply passage thereof with said supply chamber of the blocking elementthereof, and connection means with each of said wall attachment elementsestablishing fluid communication between said control channel thereof ofsaid control chamber of the blocking element thereof.

6. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectivelydirect fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers comprising adistributing member having fluid input connections and fluid outputconnections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supply conduitconnected to said input connections, the number of said branches beingless than the number of said supply containers, said distributing membercomprismg:

two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each of said elementshaving two output passages one of which is a preferred passage and afirst and second control channel, the first control channel serving toswitch the fluid flow from the preferred output passage to the otheroutput passage under the influence of a control signal, the secondcontrol channel acting as a stabilizing channel for stabilizing the flowin the preferred output passage under the influence of a stabilizingsignal,

branches on each of the preferred output passages,

a coupling channel which couples the first control channels of each wallattachment elements to one another,

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred outputpassage of the first monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with said first element, and

a coupling channel which couples the branch on the preferred outputpassage of the second monostable fluid wall attachment element to thestabilizing channel associated with said second element.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,747,645 Dated July 24, 1973 Inventor) PETER LEENDERT HOLSTER ET AL Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 26, "posduction" should be -production- Col. 5, line 5,after "for" insert -a line 51, "th" should be --the'- Col. 8, line 1,delete "and" line 24, after "94" "the" should be -The- Claim 4, line 6,"outputs" should be --inputs- Signed and sealed this 6th day of August1974.

(SEAL) Atte'st:

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. In a machine for washing textile fabrics, dishes or the like, inwhich detergents and other additives are to be successively carried fromsupply containers into a wash space, a fluid control device forselectively flushing said containers, said device comprising a pluralityof parallel-connected branches of a water conduit, the number of saidbranches being smaller than the number of supply containers, so that atleast two of the conduit branches participate in flushing at least oneof said containers, said fluid control device having a distributingmember comprising a first and a second monostable fluid wall attachmentelement each having two output passages and a control channel, a firstand a second blocking element each having a blocking chamber, a supplychamber and a control chamber, the latter two chambers being arranged tobe separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of ablocking member arranged to be moved by fluid pressure in the blockingchamber, and coupling channels for coupling the supply passage of thefirst fluid wall attachment element to the supply chamber of the firstblocking element and to the blocking chamber of the second blockingelement, the supply passage of the second fluid wall attachment elementto the supply chamber of the second blocking element and the blockingchamber of the first blocking element, the control channel of the firstfluid wall attachment element to the control chamber of the firstblocking element, and the control channel of the second fluid wallattachment element to the control chamber of the second blockingelement.
 2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributingmember comprises two parts having an open pattern of passages, channelsand chambers, on the surface of each part facing the other part, and asealing member made of a resilient material and clamped between the saidtwo parts, given portions of the sealing member acting as blockingmembers in the form of flexible diaphragms.
 3. In a machine for washingtextile fabrics, dishes or the like, in which detergents and otheradditives are to be successively carried from supply containers into awash space, a fluid control device for selectively flushing saidcontainers, said device comprising a plurality of parallel-connectedbranches of a water conduit, the number of said branches being smallerthan the number of supply containers, so that at least two of theconduit branches participate in flushing at least one of saidcontainers, said fluid control device having a distributing membercomprising two monostable fluid wall attachment elements each having twooutput passages and a first and a second control channel, the firstcontrol channel serving to switch the fluid flow from the preferredoutput passage to the other output passage under the influence of acontrol signal the second control channel acting as a stabilizingchannel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage underthe influence of a stabilizing signal, branches on each of the preferredoutput passages, a coupling channel which couples the first controlchannels to one another, a coupling channel which couples the branch onthe preferred output passage of the first monostable fluid wallattachment element to the stabilizing channel associated with thiselement, and a coupling channel which couples the branch on thepreferred output passage of the second monostable fluid wall attachmentelement to the stabilizing channel associated with this element.
 4. Afluid control device for use in a washing apparatus to selectivelydirect fluid flow to a plurality of supply containers cOmprising adistributing member having fluid inputs and fluid outputs, parallelconnected branches of a fluid supply conduit connected to said outputs,the number of said branches being less than the number of said supplycontainers, said distributing member comprising first and secondmonostable fluid wall attachment elements, each of said elements havinga control channel and two output passages communicating with said fluidoutputs, one of said output passages being a preferred passage, aseparate branch connected to each of said preferred passages, and afeedback channel communicating between the separate branch of one ofsaid wall attachment elements and the control channel of the otherelement.
 5. A fluid control device for use in a washing apparatus toselectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supply containerscomprising a distributing member having fluid input connections andfluid output connections, parallel connected branches of a fluid supplyconduit connected to said input connections, the number of said branchesbeing less than the number of said supply containers, said distributingmember comprising first and second monostable fluid wall attachmentelements, each of said elements having a supply passage, two outputpassages, a control channel, a blocking element comprising a blockingchamber, a supply chamber, a control chamber, and a blocking memberseparating said supply chamber from said control chamber in a fluidtight manner and movable by fluid pressure in said blocking chamber, afirst coupling channel coupling said the supply passage of said firstwall attachment element to the blocking chamber in the blocking elementof said second wall attachment element, a second coupling channelcoupling said supply passage of said second wall attachment element tothe blocking chamber in the blocking element of said first wallattachment element, channel means in each of said wall attachmentelements for communicating said supply passage thereof with said supplychamber of the blocking element thereof, and connection means with eachof said wall attachment elements establishing fluid communicationbetween said control channel thereof of said control chamber of theblocking element thereof.
 6. A fluid control device for use in a washingapparatus to selectively direct fluid flow to a plurality of supplycontainers comprising a distributing member having fluid inputconnections and fluid output connections, parallel connected branches ofa fluid supply conduit connected to said input connections, the numberof said branches being less than the number of said supply containers,said distributing member comprising: two monostable fluid wallattachment elements each of said elements having two output passages oneof which is a preferred passage and a first and second control channel,the first control channel serving to switch the fluid flow from thepreferred output passage to the other output passage under the influenceof a control signal, the second control channel acting as a stabilizingchannel for stabilizing the flow in the preferred output passage underthe influence of a stabilizing signal, branches on each of the preferredoutput passages, a coupling channel which couples the first controlchannels of each wall attachment elements to one another, a couplingchannel which couples the branch on the preferred output passage of thefirst monostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizingchannel associated with said first element, and a coupling channel whichcouples the branch on the preferred output passage of the secondmonostable fluid wall attachment element to the stabilizing channelassociated with said second element.